What is Medieval History? John H. Arnold is an English-language study book that focuses on the methods of medieval historians. The book is intended for professionals and provides a deep insight into the field of medieval history.
Since the first edition in 2007, this book describes what medieval historians do, how, and why they do it. Arnold discusses the development of medieval history as a discipline, the nature of the sources, and the intellectual tools used for this purpose. Through engaging case studies — ranging from a magical conspiracy against a medieval pope to a fourteenth-century uprising and the significance of a kiss between two ninth-century nobles — it becomes clear what medieval history encompasses. In addition, the cultural and political context in which this history was written is discussed in depth.
The second edition goes further into interdisciplinary methods such as collaboration with scholars and archaeologists and addresses challenges within the concept of ‘global middle ages’. What is Medieval History? is an essential source for students, teachers, and researchers who want to understand why medieval history is not only relevant to the present, but also to the future.